The type of mask matters if you don’t want to inhale harmful pollutants. This is a Kaiser Health News story. Toby Lewsadder stepped outside an Ace Hardware store wearing a simple one-strap dust mask.

To avoid breathing wildfire smoke, it's important to have the right gear. Dust masks, bandanas and damp pieces of cloth won't adequately protect you from inhaling fine particulate matter like PM2.5.

LOS ANGELES -- If you've been outside in Southern California in the last couple days, you'll undoubtedly have experienced the smoke and haze, a result of the fires burning in Los Angeles and Ventura ...